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Historical Society of Rockland County To Present Rockland County Executive Historic Preservation Awards
The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) has chosen five recipients for its 33rd Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards. These awards are presented in recognition of outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County. The awards will be presented at a Country Supper on the grounds of the HSRC’s historic Jacob Blauvelt Homestead in New City on Sunday, May 17th. (May is National Preservation Month).
The 33rd Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards (2026)
- Larry Kigler, Historian, Town of Clarkstown: Margaret B. and John R. Zehner Award for contributions to the county’s history, and for underscoring the value of historic preservation to the community.
- Shatemuc Chapter, NSDAR: Preservation Leadership Award for individuals, groups, and government agencies that display outstanding leadership or continuing contribution to the preservation of historic resources in Rockland County.
- Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, Nyack (Columbus State University, Owners): Rehabilitation Award for front walkway and front façade.
- Jacob Sloat House, Sloatsburg (Friends of Harmony Hall, Stewards): Restoration Award for restoration of the historic veranda.
- Storms Tavern, Valley Cottage (Town of Clarkstown and Tilcon NY ): Rescue Award.
The awards recognize positive effects of preservation on the community.
Since 1991, the Historical Society of Rockland County has presented over 100 awards to public agencies, private individuals, community-based and religious organizations in recognition of their preservation efforts in the County. The Committee also supports continued critical action to help save Rockland County’s environmentally sensitive areas and endangered architecture. Instituted to preserve the rich historical heritage of the County, the annual program celebrates each May with a declaration of “Rockland County Preservation Week” by the County Executive, an awards ceremony and a festive country supper.
For information on attending the awards ceremony and country supper, which will be held on the grounds of the Jacob Blauvelt house on May 17, 2026, please visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at 845-634-9629 or info@rocklandhistory.org.
More Than a Meal: How a Shared Love of Music Forged an Unlikely Friendship Between a 98-Year-Old and a Meals on Wheels Volunteer
Here’s a story that illustrates how volunteering delivers so much more than a meal. It’s a story of two men from different generations, a 98-year-old resident and a dedicated volunteer, brought together by the power of music to form a life-changing friendship.
For Meals on Wheels volunteer William Derella, it started as a routine meal delivery and safety check to then-94-year-old George Frost, a Veteran living with his son Tim, in the house he built himself in 1957.
That day, William, a legendary music executive who managed the careers of Fergie, The Black Eyed Peas, Sean Paul, John Legend, and Prince Royce, noticed George’s collection of Jazz CD’s. A Jazz aficionado himself, William spotted John Pizzarelli’s “All of Me” CD, pointed to the producer credit, and revealed his own name listed!
That discovery was the first note in a beautiful multi-year, ongoing friendship. What began as brief chats during meal deliveries soon evolved into dedicated weekly music sessions spanning 4 years (George is now 98). These gatherings became a lifeline, especially for George, who sometimes struggles to find his words.
His daughter, Judy, shares, “Dad has a hard time getting his words out when speaking, but when singing with William, all the words flow.” This experience highlights the profound benefits of music for older adults. Music is a powerful tool that can stimulate cognitive function and unlock memories, allowing individuals to reconnect with their identity and communicate in ways that words alone cannot.
During their sessions, William brings his iPad and a portable speaker, and with lyrics in front of him, George sings loudly and proudly. In addition to sharing insider music industry tidbits about the songs and artists they listen to, his custom playlists are often themed. They’ve done: “Two for Page 2 Tuesdays,” “Don’t Worry – Be Happy,” “Young at Heart,” and “Grateful Fridays,” where they jam to inspirational songs. When one of them has a bad day, they tend to sing songs like “You’ve Got A Friend,” and “Lovely Day.” Their listening habits include everything from Nat King Cole to Billy Joel.
Laughter is also part of their weekly routine, which William believes is the best medicine, next to singing.
This National Volunteer Month urges people to volunteer to combat the loneliness and isolation faced by so many seniors, delivering not just a nutritious meal, but also a vital dose of companionship and joy.
Montefiore Nyack Hospital Celebrated As Leader in Patient Care By Castle Connolly
Montefiore Nyack Hospital has been recognized as a leader in patient care, earning a spot on Castle Connolly’s 2026 Top Hospitals list for a New York State Procedure Award for General Surgery.
This designation includes colon surgery, hernia repair surgery, and weight loss surgery
Castle Connolly Top Hospitals recognizes the nation’s leading healthcare institutions. The 2026 list includes 1,663 Top Hospitals, selected from over 6,000 hospitals nationwide. These hospitals were evaluated for their overall excellence, as well as their performance in six specialties and nineteen procedures
“Montefiore Nyack Hospital’s surgical team provides expert care from routine to complex procedures,” said Mark Geller, MD, FACR, president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “We are proud to receive this recognition as it underscores our dedication to delivering high-quality medicine and our commitment to excellence.
The recognition is based on a comprehensive, outcomes-driven methodology, which combines recent all-payor outcomes data with Castle Connolly’s Top Doctor evaluations, focused on clinical expertise. This approach provides a clear, data-informed view of where high-quality care is being delivered today.
“Our goal is to make complex healthcare decisions easier for patients and their healthcare providers. By combining current outcomes data with the vetted expertise of Top Doctors, we highlight hospitals that truly excel in specific procedures, supporting patients in their most critical healthcare decisions,” said Steve Leibforth, Managing Director Castle Connolly.
